Tuesday, March 11, 2014

It seems as though every time we log into social media or
turn on the tube, we hear of a new study linking possible cancer risk to some
food, beverage or product we’ve stashed in our cupboard.But have you noticed it all seems
a bit hazy?Specifically, what of soda-pop &
its so-called cancer risk factors? Below
are some findings concerning soda that you may find informative.

Regular Soda’s “Caramel
Coloring”
In January of this year an interesting, and for some, alarming study published
by Consumer Reports suggested that a potential
carcinogen may be found in many sodas, both diet and regular. This study found that a chemical known as
4-methylimidazole, or 4-Mel, may cause cancer to humans. Haven’t seen 4-Mel listed in the ingredients
on your can of soda? Look for its’
harmless sounding label: “caramel coloring”. The FDA was alarmed enough by the Consumer
Reports study to announce that it will conduct a series of
new research initiatives to get to the bottom of the caramel-coloring question.
The studies are currently being
conducted and some states, such as California, are already limiting the amount
of caramel coloring allowed in products sold to their consumers.

Diet Sodas
Many people you talk with will have an opinion on whether they think it's worse or better to drink
diet sodas vs non-diet. As far back as
the 1970’s, concerns arose regarding unnatural, artificial sweeteners contained
in diet drinks. In one study it was
found that an artificial sweetener known as Saccharin was linked to bladder
cancer in rats. This prompted the
government to require a warning label on any products containing Saccharin to
inform consumers that the product “may be hazardous to your health.”

Over time, however, additional studies suggested that this
effect was specific only to rats and no conclusive evidence linked the
substance to cancer in humans. That is
why you no longer see a warning label on products containing Saccharin. Although similar studies related to other
artificial sweeteners have raised different red flags over the years, the truth
is there has never been a clear link established between cancer and these
products. For more information from the
National Cancer Institute on this topic, click
here.

Bottom LineA good rule of thumb is moderation, and whenever possible, err towards natural,
organic products. While there is still
debate over the cancer-causing possibilities of the substances listed above,
there is conclusive evidence that our bodies thrive when we primarily hydrate
with that boring, universal, essential-for-all-life-liquid:water. So if you’re worried about cancer, shock your
liver and drink more water.